title: African American women's views of factors impacting preterm birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore pregnant African American women's views of factors that may impact preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative descriptive exploratory cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 22 low-risk pregnant African American women participated in focus group interviews. Women were asked questions regarding their belief about why women have preterm birth and factors impacting preterm birth. Data were analyzed using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant African American women encounter multiple physical, psychological, and social stressors. The four themes included knowledge of preterm birth, risk factors for preterm birth, protective factors for preterm birth, and preterm birth inevitability. The risk factors for preterm birth were health-related conditions, stressors, and unhealthy behaviors. Stressors included lack of social and financial support, interpersonal conflicts, judging, dangerous neighborhoods, racism, and pregnancy- and mothering-related worries. Protective factors for preterm birth included social support and positive coping/self-care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians may use the results of this study to better understand women's perceptions of factors that affect preterm birth, to educate women about risk factors for preterm birth, and to develop programs and advocate for policies that have the potential to decrease health disparities in preterm birth.
authors.affiliation: College on Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. carmen.giurgescu@wayne.edu
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giurgescu
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Dancy
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norr
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047929:Term Birth / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult